Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has revealed that some Nigerians asked him to “slow down” efforts to improve electricity supply because their freezers were now working continuously.
Tegbe made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja while commissioning a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.
The minister explained that some areas that previously went without electricity for months were now receiving up to 18 hours of supply.
“Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours light. Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing. That is what freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen,” he stated.
Tegbe recalled promising during his Senate screening that Nigerians would begin to notice improvements in electricity supply within three to six months.
He, however, acknowledged that ageing infrastructure remains a major challenge, noting that some power facilities are more than four decades old.
“Some of the infrastructure we have in the electricity and power sector are more than 40 years old. We’re systematically replacing them, phasing them out and bringing new ones,” he added.
The minister also disclosed that vandals had destroyed three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi by attacking their foundations and cutting parts of the structures for scrap.
He revealed that the government had formed a joint committee involving the EFCC, Police and NSCDC to protect critical electricity infrastructure and ensure vandalism is treated as a serious criminal offence.
Tegbe’s comments have generated attention online, particularly his account of Nigerians asking him to slow down because their freezers were now freezing food continuously.
